Waves of Sunday #64

Welcome to our weekly edition of Waves of Sunday where each Sunday we spotlight a book that has been making waves in the book scene or has simply caught our attention causing a riptide on our TBR. 

Today we are spotlighting:

The Bourbon Kings (The Bourbon Kings #1) by J.R. Ward

Expected publication: July 28th 2015 by NAL

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal.... 

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

Arlene's Thoughts

I seem to have a rocky relationship with this author, but I can’t release myself from her madness! I feel for the last five or six installments of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, I’ve complained about J.R. Ward’s filler books. I’ve pitched fits about her dragging the series out needlessly and swearing not to pick up another BDB book. So when The Bourbon King popped out of nowhere, I thought… okay well I can still dapple with J.R. Ward’s storytelling, but not feel tortured by a series that’s clearly come full circle. So I am shamelessly admitting that I’m both curious and eager to try her new series The Bourbon Kings. It sounds like a fresh turn down an exciting alley. If I read the description correctly, it’s not paranormal, so I’m curious how Ward will handle her world building in a contemporary setting. Bring it on!

Rachel's Thoughts:
I have read three of the BDB series and I have enjoyed that series. I'm curious about The Bourbon Kings because it sounds so different from anything I've seen from J.R. Ward. This series is being compared to the epic TV shows, Dynasty and Dallas in the way that it's a big successful family with a lot of drama and secrets with many different family members. I'm thinking that each book will focus on one family member with one romance, but we'll be introduced to all the characters, and get to know them a little before we get their story.  I can't say I'm thrilled to hear Tulane is married when he comes home, at least that's what I take from the description, but I guess we'll see how that plays out. It hints that his wife is a nasty piece of work, so I'm sure no tears would be shed if Tulane dumps her. I just hope they don't have kids.